Imagebearer’s Weblog

Running for a Cause: “Hope for the Children of Sudan”

I am running the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day to raise money for the Children of Sudan. You can join me by running, praying, and giving. If you are interested in supporting in any way you can leave a message here, e-mail, or call.

James 1:27 (The Message)

^26-27Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

After reading an inspiring book “Take Your Best Shot” and coupling that with the Biblical mandate to help those who are in need. I have decided to run the Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Marathon to raise support for the children of Sudan.

Why not do something you love and help others at the same time?

Our Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church has partnered with Southern Sudan to help with the needs there and there is a possibility that I could travel there on a mission trip in the future. In the mean time I want to do something to help the children.

Here is how it will work. I will travel to Atlanta in November and run the 26.2 mile Marathon on Thanksgiving Day in honor of and support of The Children of Sudan Africa, “Hope for the Children”. By the way I will also run in honor of our great friend Ona Smith. Ona ran in this race several times before going to be with our Lord earlier this year.

Every gift that is given will go to support the children of Sudan, “Hope for the Children”. I will personally pay all of the expenses of entering the race as well as transportation to and from Atlanta.

There are several ways that you can support.

# 1 is in your prayers

Donate $1 for every mile = 26 dollars

Donate $5 for every mile = 130 dollars

Donate $10 for every mile = 260 dollars

Donate $20 for every mile = 520 dollars

Donate $100 for every mile = 2600 dollars

or simply Donate Any $ Amount

Special Opportunity – You could join me in the run and help raise money for the Children!

My goal is simply to raise as much money as possible and have fun doing it. I am inviting people (Runners) who would like to help raise money for the children of Sudan to join me in the run. You can sign up to run at http://www.atlantatrackclub.org

Make your checks payable to: The Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church or The Holston UMC

Designate your Check “Hope for the Children of Sudan”

Mail to: Ronnie G Collins, PO Box 356, Hillsville Virginia 24343

I will compile the checks and get them to Holston Conference on behalf of the children. You will receive a letter from me to signify when the gift is received.

I am excited to see just what Miracle the Lord will do.

Ronnie

Hope for the
Children of Sudan

Here‘s what is happening…

In the past two decades, more than 2 million people have lost their lives through violence, disease and starvation in southern Sudan due to a North vs. South civil war.

In Western Sudan, in the Darfur region, the Coalition for International Justice released a report in April, 2005 stating that approximately 400,000 men, women and children had been killed due to genocide in the region.

Years of food shortage, displaced children/families, and disease have forced millions (35 million+) to live in crowded refugee camps. Thousands have died and continue to die, needlessly.

This is Sudan, a country in crisis.

A Story from the Bible

Matthew 25:35-40

³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

October 1, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

I am reading “Running for Dummies” to help in my training for the Atlanta Marathon

There is one thing for sure, Running is the cheapest sport that you can participate in. All a person truly needs to run is a pair of shoes and shorts. Several years ago when I started to run I had the most basic of gear. Just any old pair of running shoes and any old pair of shorts.

I will admit that through the years and as I became more serious about the sport of running I started to buy clothing and shoes that are better and more efficient to run in. I now wear dri-fit shirts and shorts and I have been to a physical therapist and been fitted for running shoes that best meet the needs of my body frame and foot stroke. For me that is a Stability or Motion Control Shoe. The reason I did this is that I was having problems with my knees and I wanted to discover a way to fix it rather than stopping something that I loved to do.

I have been running in the Brooks Addiction for the past 6 years or so with no knee problems. I am just now venturing out into some different brands and experimenting to see if I can find something that is lighter and still beneficial.

I have struggled through the past 3 years while working on my Masters Degree to run and stay in shape. Although I never quit running I slowed down to just a day or 2 a week and I also gained weight which slowed me down even more. I walked two or three times a week and that help me to not quit. Now that the Masters is completed, I am back in the swing of things. I am training for the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. It is my goal to drop at least 10 pounds before race day and finish the race in less than 4:15

Stay Tuned

Ronnie

October 1, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

This day in the life of your pastor; September 30th, 2009

October 1, 2009 Posted by imagebearer | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment